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The Firs

The Firs
The Brampton,
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Originally built (1854-5) by Charles Lynam for Thomas Leech

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1854-5	built by Charles Lynam for Thomas Leech
1855	Let to J. W. Dawson Esq.
1861	by this date occupied by tenant - Stephen Edge
1863	Thomas Leech sold The Firs to Ralph Moseley (who soon moved in)
1914	Moseley occupied the house until his death and then his executors let the house to William Simmons who brought the house in 1914.
1922	Simmons sold the house to Harry Scrivener Adams.
	The executors of Harry S Adams sold the house to Newcastle Borough Council.

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The land now occupied by Newcastle Museum and Art Gallery was the property of Thomas Leech, described as “Cheese factor, maltster, and skinner” of 4 Penkhull Street, Newcastle, in Kelly’s Directory of Staffordshire of 1854. 

Thomas Leech was then living across the road in Brampton Cottage which he rented from John Jones. Early in that year he engaged Charles Lynam, architect, of Stoke-upon-Trent, to produce a design for a new house. The drawings were ready by mid April and on the 15th Charles Lynam invited builders to tender for the contract:

TO BUILDERS.  Parties willing to CONTRACT for the ERECTION and Completion of a VILLA RESIDENCE, to be built on the east side of the Wolstanton road, near to Newcastle-under-Lyme, may see the Plans and Specifications, and obtain all necessary information at my Office, on or after Monday next, until Wednesday, the 26th instant. Sealed tenders to be sent to Mr THOMAS LEECH, Newcastle-under Lyme, on or before the day of the latter date. The lowest estimate will not necessarily be accepted. CHARLES LYNAM, Architect 3 Glebe Street, Stoke-upon-Trent, April 12th, 1854

 

on Charles Lynam

The house had been completed by the following summer and the date of construction is commemorated by the date stone above the original entrance “1855” . It is an attractive building of red brick with stone dressings and Lynam ornamented the main façade with various architectural features including a stone balcony under the window on the first floor. The house was offered to let in the Staffordshire Advertiser on 4th August 1855:

 

RESIDENCE in BRAMPTON, NEWCASTLE TO BE LET, with immediate possession a newly erected DWELLING HOUSE, delightfully situated in the BRAMPTON, NEWCASTLE. It contains on the ground floor, dining, drawing and breakfast rooms, of spacious dimensions, good kitchens, with 6 bedrooms on the second floor, and one on the third. There is a stable and coach-house, with every suitable convenience. Apply to Mr THOMAS LEECH, Newcastle. Staffordshire Advertiser 4th August 1855

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The house was first let to J W Dawson Esq. but by the date of the 1861 census he had been replaced by a new tenant — Stephen Edge, corn merchant. The 1861 census return for his household was as follows:

1861 census:

Dwelling: Brampton
Census Place: Newcastle Under Lyme, Stafford, England

                                                                                

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On 26 March 1863, Thomas Leech sold The Firs and land (2 acres & 4 perches), in the occupation of Stephen Edge, to Ralph Mosley, draper, of Newcastle, for £3,400. Shortly afterwards Ralph Mosley moved in and occupied it until his death. 

1881 census:

Dwelling: Brampton
Census Place: Newcastle Under Lyme, Stafford, England

His executors let the house to William Simmons who bought the property on 24 June 1914 for £2,450. By 1922 William Simmons had moved to Cardiff, and in that year he sold the house to Harry Scrivener Adams, of Lancaster Road, provision merchant, of the firm Boyce Adams, for £4,500. He was responsible for various extensions which considerably enlarged the size of the house. 

The executors of Harry S Adams sold The Firs to Newcastle Borough Council for £6,325.

 

The main façade with various architectural features 
including a stone balcony under the window on the first floor

 
Newcastle Museum and Art Gallery
The Firs

 

17/02/2002